Merchant bars and small sections price report U.S. market
Current small sections and merchant bar pricing for January 1, 2006 are reported as follows:ASTM A36/A6 Angles 2 x 2 x 1/4" $27.95 cwt. ($616.19 /mt or $559.00 /nt) Flat Bars 3/16 x 2" $35.65 cwt. ($808.00 /mt or $733.00 /nt) 1/2 x 4" $28.15 cwt. ($620.60 /mt or $563.00 /nt) Square Bar 1" $29.90 cwt. ($659.18 /mt or $598.00 /nt) Round Bar 1" $29.35 cwt. ($647.06 /mt or $587.00 /nt) Channels 3" x 3.5 $29.90 cwt. ($659.18/mt or $598.00 /nt)Above prices are ex-mill, effective to customers and include raw materials surcharge. Leading merchant bar producer Nucor will have to lower the February raw materials surcharge (RMS) by approximately $20 /nt in the upcoming weeks due to softening scrap prices. However, Nucor's order books are relatively full and pressure for lowering transaction prices along with raw materials surcharge is minimal. There is also very little pressure from imported merchant bars as the import levels are steady. December RMS $5.15 cwt. ($103.00 /nt or $113.54 /mt) January RMS $4.40 cwt. ($88.00 /nt or $97.00 /mt)